The qualifications for the men’s European Championships have started today.
Thirteen teams are split into four groups. The tournaments will be ended on Sunday. The top two ranked teams from each group will qualify for the European Championships, which will be held in Budapest in January.
There were no surprises in today’s matches. Favourites didn’t make mistakes. Germany, France, Slovakia, Romania and the Netherlands defeated convincingly their respective rivals and they are very close to secure their tickets for Budapest.
The top eight teams from the previous European Championships, held in Barcelona last year, are already qualified for the Championships in Budapest: Serbia, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Montenegro, Russia, Hungary.
Men’s European Championships 2020 -Qualifications, Day 1
Group A (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Switzerland – Germany 7:18 (0:4, 2:3, 1:4, 4:7)
Switzerland: Pleyer 3, Herzog 2, Carballo 1, Milovanovic 1.
Germany: Korbel 3, Preuss 3, Restovic 3, Zech 3, Juengling 2, Schulz 2, Strelezkij 1, Gielen 1.
Georgia bye.
An experienced team of Germany had no troubles in the first match of the tournament in Tbilisi. By the middle of the second quarter, Germany rushed to a 6:0 lead, which determined the rest of the encounter.
Germany will face host Georgia tomorrow.
Ranking: 1. Germany 3, 2. Switzerland 0, 3. Georgia -.
Group B (Novaky, Slovakia)
France – Ukraine 20:5 (3:2, 7:2, 5:1, 5:0)
France: Marzouki 5, Vernoux 4, Canonne 2, Marion-Vernoux 2, Camarasa 2, Kalinic 1, Bachelier 1, Missy 1, Crousillat 1, Izdinsky 1.
Ukraine: Dyadyura 2, Abramov 1, Voitenko 1, Alieksieiev 1.
Slovakia – Belarus 19:4 (4:0, 7:0, 4:1, 4:3)
Slovakia:Caraj 3, Molnar 3, Kolarik 3, Balaz 2, Marek Tkac 2, Maros Tkac 1, Zatovic 1, P. Tkac 1, Mitruk 1, Bielik 1, Zareva 1.
Belarus: Khrypachou 1, Radzko 1, Padziarun 1, Kuzmenko 1.
France and Slovakia, the favourites for the 1st place in the group, were too strong for Ukraine and Belarus.
On Day 2, France will play against Belarus, while Slovakia and Ukraine will meet in the second match of the day.
Ranking: 1. France 3, 2. Slovakia 3, 3. Ukraine 0, 4. Belarus 0.
Group C (Msida, Malta)
Romania – Portugal 15:7 (4:1, 2:2, 3:2, 6:2)
Romania: Negrean 5, Gheorghe 3, Vancsik 2, Prioteasa 2, Oanta 2, Gergelyfi 1.
Portugal: Moreira 3, Sousa 2, Ramos 1, S. Lopes 1.
Malta bye.
Romania dominated the opening game of Group C. The Romanians, led by Tiberiu Negrean, defeated Portugal 15:7.
On Day 2, the Portuguese will have a new chance to win points. Tomorrow’s encounter between Malta and Portugal probably will decide the 2nd place in the group.
Ranking: 1. Romania 3, 2. Portugal 0, 3. Malta -.
Group D (Utrecht, Netherlands)
Netherlands – Lithuania 21:4 (6:2, 3:0, 8:2, 4:0)
Netherlands: Lindhout 3, Gottemaker 3, Van den Burg 2, Gbadamassi 2, Veenhuis 2, Van Ijpren 2, Janssen 2, Koopman 2, Filipovic 2, Nispeling 1.
Lithuania: Gostautas 2, Jonkus 1, Pumputis 1.
Turkey bye.
The Dutch taught a lesson to Lithuania, which will face Turkey tomorrow.
Ranking: 1. Netherlands 3, 2. Lithuania 0, 3 Turkey -.
Women’s European Championships 2020 -Qualifications
Tomorrow, twelve teams will start in play-offs of the women’s qualifications for the 2020 European Champions
Play-offs, Leg 1 (12 October)
France-Ukraine
Romania-Germany
Czech Republic-Serbia
Israel – Switzerland
Portugal – Croatia
Slovakia – Turkey
The return leg is on 26 October. The winners of six duels will qualify for the championships in Budapest.
Teams already qualified (ranked 1-6th in Barcelona 2018): Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Russia.
